After the destruction of New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the shutdown of much of New York City by Sandy in 2012, and now the devastation wrought on Texas by Harvey, the U.S. can and should do better.
Interpretation
The U.S. needs to improve its response to natural disasters.
Joseph Stiglitz emphasizes the pressing need for the United States to enhance its disaster preparedness and response mechanisms in light of the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters, as exemplified by Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Sandy, and Hurricane Harvey. These events serve as a reminder that the nation has a responsibility to learn from past failures and implement better strategies to protect its citizens and infrastructure in the face of climate change.
In practice
During a community meeting about disaster preparedness, this quote can be used to stress the importance of improved measures.
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